Chapter 3 (The Wrath of Francis)

**Chapter 3 (The Wrath of Francis)** is the third chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode I - The Wrath of Francis and the third chapter of the overall Clearwood series. It is currently being written by Donald Newton. This chapter will be published on May 2, 2020.

## Plot

The latest murder haunts Clarence due to it's close connection to his past. Scott and Andrew look to merge their separate groups into one. Andrew meets Zero, a little boy who is seeking out Lorraine.

## Full Chapter

FLASH!

THE WAGNER RESIDENCE

A police investigator takes photographs of the dead bodies of Benny Pike and Hillary Wagner. Clarence arrives in his Sheriff's car. He is disturbed when he recognizes the house. He remembers coming here when Hillary was first reported missing when Francis kidnapped her. The call he got today informed him of two dead bodies. He is shaken up as he enters the house.

CLARENCE: Oh, Jesus!

Clarence is horrified and sadden to find himself standing over the bloodied body of the very little girl he rescued and brought to this home a decade earlier, now a mutilated young woman. He stares at her stab wounds and recognizes them as the same types seen in the victims of the original Francis killer.

DEPUTY: (off screen) SHERIFF!!! YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THIS!!!

Clarence walks away from the living room to the DEN on the other side of the house and is horrified by what his Deputy shows him -- "TO CLARENCE! I'M BACK! - FRANCIS" written in blood on the wall. Memories hit Clarence as he stares at the bloody note to him in horror.

CUT TO:

FLASHBACK

A younger CLARENCE fires his gun at the REAL FRANCIS and the bullet goes into his head, killing the murderer.

CUT TO:

PRESENT

Clarence is confused, shocked, and horrified.

CLARENCE: How could this be happening? I killed that bastard ten years ago!

DEPUTY: We have a copycat on our hands.

CUT TO:

EXT. CLEARWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - COURTYARD - DAY

Andrew, Alice, Cassie, Oscar, and Jeremy are sitting at a table together and watching a LIVE video on one of their tablets of Clarence's press conference about the murder.

CLARENCE: (in video) At this moment, I cannot comment on an going investigation. Except to say that this killer will be caught soon and will be brought to justice. Though, we do think that this is an isolated incident, we advise people to be careful and there will be a curfew set at eight o'clock starting tonight for anyone under the age of eighteen.

Andrew recognizes the look on his father's face. It is a look of fear. He knows that this is serious and that there is something that his father is not telling the public.

CLARENCE: (in the video) That is all for now. Thank you.

Clarence walks away from the podium with the reporters badgering him with questions. The video ends. Everyone is shocked by the news of Hillary Wagner and Benny Pike's murders.

JEREMY: This shit is crazy.

CASSIE: I know. I can't believe that Benny and Hillary are dead.

ANDREW: I know that look on my Dad's face. There is something else going on. And he's not telling anyone. He most definitely won't tell me either.

Andrew shakes his head. He looks at his phone and sees the time. He starts getting up and prepares to leave his group.

ANDREW: I gotta go to the Beamer to meet up with Scott.

CASSIE: Don't forget to talk to him about the merging idea.

ANDREW: I won't forget. I want to see if this can work.

Andrew and Alice kiss each other goodbye before he leaves.

ALICE: (As he walks off) Good luck, babe!

ANDREW: (Walking off screen) Thanks!

CUT TO:

INT. BEAMER CAFE - DAY

Andrew and Scott are sitting at a table and having milkshakes together as they do their weekly catch up routine. It's when they are separated from their new respective groups just to be together.

ANDREW: I still can't believe that Hillary and Benny were murdered.

SCOTT: I know. I didn't know them. But it still sucks.

ANDREW: When I saw my Dad's face as he tried to assure the public it's safety, I knew that something wasn't right. Something happened to those two that got to my Dad.

SCOTT: What do you think it is?

ANDREW: (shaking his head) I don't know. But you know my Dad. He is a tough man. Whatever this was...it scares him. If it scares my Dad...a very brave tough man...then you know this shit is serious.

Scott nods with an understanding.

ANDREW: Why do we this? Why don't we just hang out on a regular basis? Like we did for many years?

Scott takes a moment to think about this.

SCOTT: I don't know. I guess that I figured now that you're dating a girl belonging to a popular group that you don't want us to be friends anymore...or at least not be seen with me.

ANDREW: Not true. I never forgotten about you. My girlfriend and my friends know about you. They know that I'm here with you. In fact, they want to meet you.

Scott is surprised by this.

SCOTT: They do?

ANDREW: Of course, they do. You're my best friend.

SCOTT: I'm the son of a known drunk and drug addict. I'm the rebel who is "lazy" and is no good. Your girlfriend and friends are the beautiful, popular, and "cool" people.

ANDREW: My friends are no where near the way you're use to seeing people like them being. My friends are good people. Hell, I've noticed Jeremy often staring at your nerdy friend.

SCOTT: Oh, Iris. Yeah. I've noticed her staring at him, too. I think she likes him.

ANDREW: And we know that Jeremy likes her. So why not hook them up? Let our friends come together as one. Bring the "popular" and the "outcast" as one.

SCOTT: I'll talk to my group. If anything, perhaps we should try to work something out so that our friends can be friends.

ANDREW: That's all I want, man. I don't want to just keep coming over here to hang out for an hour with you. I want us to go to my place, school, or anywhere and hang out. We need that.

Scott thinks about this and smiles as he nods.

SCOTT: We do. Time has taken enough of our friendship away. It's time we rebuild it.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Andrew is driving the old brown car home from the Beamer. He's singing along to a rock song playing on the radio. As he drives through his neighborhood, he sees a LITTLE BOY -- NAMED ZERO (5) -- riding on his bike. Zero appears to be following Andrew.

EXT. CARTER RESIDENCE - DAY

Andrew pulls up the house. As he gets out, he notices Zero quickly riding up to the house. Does he talk to the kid or what? Andrew makes his decision. He gets out of the car and moves over to the road as Zero pulls up to him.

ZERO: (so innocently) Hi!

ANDREW: Hey, Little Buddy. What's up?

ZERO: I'm riding my bike around.

ANDREW: That's cool. Where's your mom?

ZERO: I don't have a mommy.

ANDREW: Oh, I'm sorry. Do you live around here?

ZERO: I live on the other end of the neighborhood.

ANDREW: That's kind of far. Do you need a ride home?

ZERO: No thanks. I can manage.

Andrew smiles at the boy.

ANDREW: Okay. Take care of yourself, little man.

ZERO: Bye.

Andrew walks away and goes inside. But Zero stands there for a moment. Then he looks up to see -- LORRAINE -- also looking at him from her bedroom window. Zero smiles and waves at her. Despite showing signs of extreme emotions, Lorraine puts on a smile for him and waves back to him. This is who he really came to see. Lorraine NOT Andrew. But why? What is the connection between Lorraine and Zero?

## Trivia

* First appearance of Zero.
* First appearance of the Beamer Cafe.