A scene cut from Scream VI gave Gale more of the dignity she deserves
The original scripts for the Scream movies are always fascinating to read, because most of them were altered a lot throughout production. The early Scream 4 script in particular is a beautiful mess, giving us a version of the movie where the killer gets away with it. The script for the latest movie in the franchise, 2023’s Scream VI, hit the internet on Aug. 15, and once again, fans are confused by what was abandoned on the cutting room floor. Several references to departed series star Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) were cut from the final film, but more significantly, ongoing star Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) lost one of her best moments in the series so far.
[Ed. note: Spoilers ahead for Scream VI.]
A little over halfway through (on page 95), new series star Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) gets a scene alone with Gale in the Ghostface museum. Sam laments that the world thinks she’s the killer. “Back when Sidney survived, everyone embraced her.” Sam says. “When I survived, they hated me. Because I’m not the good girl. […] People prefer me as the villain.”
Gale tells her, “Sam, I know this from experience — comparing yourself to Sidney is not a good use of your time. And besides, you’re more like me anyway.”
That might not sound like much, especially since the rest of the scene, where they discuss their losses and Sam’s mother, did make it into the final movie. But the exchange about Sidney could have been a lovely moment for Gale. It shows a more motherly side of her, which makes Sam’s heartbroken reaction to Gale’s later near-death feel more earned. Not only that, but we’re seeing Gale grapple with her longtime role as Sidney’s ethically dubious counterpart.
Gale has always been aware that she isn’t as “lovable” as
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