The Original Scripted First Encounter Of Abel In Friday The 13th Part 3
Lets face it, Friday The 13th fans love Abel, even though he was throw in nod to Crazy Ralph to serve as a Prophet Of Doom. With that being said, Friday The 13th Part 3 is an interesting study of how script updates can change the overall impact of a character like Abel in a film. We have already documented that Abel was in fact suppose to appear in three separate scenes throughout Part 3, but eventually he would only appear once in his encounter with the the kids going to Higgins Haven.
The original script for the film had that first encounter between the characters go down in a much different fashion. Instead of Abel lying in the road and Chris's van having to come to an abrupt stop, Abel was a hitchhiker! What's this you say? Well, read on for the excerpt from the original script to find out more about the originally conceived encounter with Abel.
From The Original Friday The 13th Part 3 Script
INT. VAN - MORNING
The sun pours in through the windshield. Debbie shades her
eyes to get a better look at the figure up ahead.
DEBBIE
Would you look at that! I've
never seen a senior citizen
hitchhiker before.
The others in the back come forward to look.
ANDY
Let's give the poor old guy a
break. Pick 'im up.
Shelly reacts very emotionally to the suggestion.
SHELLY
That scarecrow? Can't you tell
how weird his is just by looking
at him.
VERA
Come on, Shelly. Who else is
gonna give him a lift?
SHELLY
Not us! He's really creepy.
The van is now upon the aged hitchhiker. He flashes a smile
at them: plaintive, shy, and yet somehow ominous.
CHUCK
(reassuring)
He looks just like my grandfather,
man. Let's give him a ride.
EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING
The van screeches to a halt and backs up to Abel. The side
door slides open and Abel is lifted into the back.
The van pulls away.
CUT TO:
INT. VAN - MORNING
Abel settles into the back next to Shelly who studies the old
traveller with both curiosity and trepidation.
Chris adjusts her rearview mirror to include Abel.
Abel nods "hello" to one and all. They nod back.
ABEL
(in an eloquent
soothing voice)
You are, all of you, very kind and
generous young people to lend a
helping hand to a tired, old man.
Thank you very much. Perhaps I
can repay the kindness.
The civilized speaking-manner of the shabby-looking stranger
calms the layer of fear that any might have had.
ABEL
(continuing)
My name is Abel. And I am my
brother's keeper.
SHELLY
Where are you going?
ABEL
Going? How do you mean?
SHELLY
I mean, is there any place in
particular where we can drop you
off?
ABEL
Drop me off? How do you mean?
Shelly's suspicions return and he glances from Vera to Debbie
and Andy. Andy shrugs his shoulders.
Abel reaches into his dusty dufflebag and pulls out a very
small bundle wrapped in a scrap of cloth.
Chris watches via the rearview mirror. Her expression is
wary.
Abel unwraps the object and places it in front of Shelly's
face.
ABEL
(continuing)
Look what His Grace has brought me.
Shelly looks down at a the small, slimy, white oblong thing.
SHELLY
(wincing)
What is that?
ABEL
I found this today. There were
other pieces of the body lying
there, but I believe "he" wanted
me to have this...
SHELLY
(gasping)
That's an eyeball! Oh, God!
ABEL
"He" wanted me to warn you.
(evangelical)
Look at this, all of you!
He holds the eyeball out for each to view. They shrink back
away from him, cringing at the sight.
The eyeball is reflected in the rearview mirror. Chris is
becoming quite upset.
ABEL
(continuing)
See with your own eyes what I have
seen. Runaway! Go back to where
you came from... Now!!!
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING
The van comes to an abrupt stop. The side door opens and the
old man is practically tossed out.
On the ground, Abel yells after the van as it speeds away.
ABEL
I warned you!
The original script for the film had that first encounter between the characters go down in a much different fashion. Instead of Abel lying in the road and Chris's van having to come to an abrupt stop, Abel was a hitchhiker! What's this you say? Well, read on for the excerpt from the original script to find out more about the originally conceived encounter with Abel.
From The Original Friday The 13th Part 3 Script
INT. VAN - MORNING
The sun pours in through the windshield. Debbie shades her
eyes to get a better look at the figure up ahead.
DEBBIE
Would you look at that! I've
never seen a senior citizen
hitchhiker before.
The others in the back come forward to look.
ANDY
Let's give the poor old guy a
break. Pick 'im up.
Shelly reacts very emotionally to the suggestion.
SHELLY
That scarecrow? Can't you tell
how weird his is just by looking
at him.
VERA
Come on, Shelly. Who else is
gonna give him a lift?
SHELLY
Not us! He's really creepy.
The van is now upon the aged hitchhiker. He flashes a smile
at them: plaintive, shy, and yet somehow ominous.
CHUCK
(reassuring)
He looks just like my grandfather,
man. Let's give him a ride.
EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING
The van screeches to a halt and backs up to Abel. The side
door slides open and Abel is lifted into the back.
The van pulls away.
CUT TO:
INT. VAN - MORNING
Abel settles into the back next to Shelly who studies the old
traveller with both curiosity and trepidation.
Chris adjusts her rearview mirror to include Abel.
Abel nods "hello" to one and all. They nod back.
ABEL
(in an eloquent
soothing voice)
You are, all of you, very kind and
generous young people to lend a
helping hand to a tired, old man.
Thank you very much. Perhaps I
can repay the kindness.
The civilized speaking-manner of the shabby-looking stranger
calms the layer of fear that any might have had.
ABEL
(continuing)
My name is Abel. And I am my
brother's keeper.
SHELLY
Where are you going?
ABEL
Going? How do you mean?
SHELLY
I mean, is there any place in
particular where we can drop you
off?
ABEL
Drop me off? How do you mean?
Shelly's suspicions return and he glances from Vera to Debbie
and Andy. Andy shrugs his shoulders.
Abel reaches into his dusty dufflebag and pulls out a very
small bundle wrapped in a scrap of cloth.
Chris watches via the rearview mirror. Her expression is
wary.
Abel unwraps the object and places it in front of Shelly's
face.
ABEL
(continuing)
Look what His Grace has brought me.
Shelly looks down at a the small, slimy, white oblong thing.
SHELLY
(wincing)
What is that?
ABEL
I found this today. There were
other pieces of the body lying
there, but I believe "he" wanted
me to have this...
SHELLY
(gasping)
That's an eyeball! Oh, God!
ABEL
"He" wanted me to warn you.
(evangelical)
Look at this, all of you!
He holds the eyeball out for each to view. They shrink back
away from him, cringing at the sight.
The eyeball is reflected in the rearview mirror. Chris is
becoming quite upset.
ABEL
(continuing)
See with your own eyes what I have
seen. Runaway! Go back to where
you came from... Now!!!
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING
The van comes to an abrupt stop. The side door opens and the
old man is practically tossed out.
On the ground, Abel yells after the van as it speeds away.
ABEL
I warned you!
