Kate Roberts

Kathleen "Kate" Roberts was a minor character in Scream 4 (2011 film). She is portrayed by Mary McDonnell. She is the mother of Jillian "Jill" Roberts and the younger sister of Maureen Prescott, therefore making her Sidney Prescott's aunt. Her character is mostly an homage to Maureen.

Kate was the seventh character to fall victim to the fourth Ghostface killing spree.

Background
Kathleen "Kate" Roberts was raised in Woodsboro, California alongside her older sister, who was approximately five years older, Maureen Roberts. When Kate was around 13 in early-1969, her older sister relocated to Hollywood without her or their parents' knowledge. Her sister later returned to Woodsboro, and moved out of their home to 34 Elm Street, while Kate stayed at the Roberts Residence. In 1994, at approx. age 38, Maureen gave birth to her only daughter, Jill, with an unnamed ex-partner. Shortly afterwards, the two separated.

Given Jill's later motivation on family, it is highly unlikely her father was in the picture for the majority of her life (as having her paternal family influence may have led her to a different path). Coupled with her age and occupation, her pregnancy was likely a surprise.

The Original Woodsboro Murders and aftermath
Over one year after the birth of her only child, Kate's older sister, Maureen was brutally murdered. In the canonical series of events, her sister's killer was identified as Cotton Weary, a man her sister was also having an affair with. It is unknown how Kate reacted to the allegations of her sister's promiscuity, as it was generally accepted by the court that Cotton raped and murdered her. It is highly likely she would have been an attendee of Sidney's eye-witness testimony in late-1995 / early-1996 that sent Cotton to death row.

Despite not appearing nor being mentioned in the original trilogy (Scream 1, 2 and 3) at all, Gale mentions that nobody from Woodsboro who knew her can determine where Maureen had been between the ages of 18 and 20 (1969—1971). It is possible that despite being a young girl, Kate was among those asked.

Second Woodsboro Murders / Woodsboro Remake Murders
In the fourth film, she is first seen in the background at the local Woodsboro bookstore, where Sidney is promoting her self-help book, Out of Darkness. This is prior to the beginning of the second Woodsboro Murders (2011), a remake massacre. Later, she states to Kirby Reed, her daughter´s best friend, when she mentions Sidney having scars, that she also suffers from emotional scarring because of her sister’s death, and "nobody ever asked" her about her scars. However, Kirby was referring to knife scars, which Jill later clarifies.

When Jill is attacked by Ghostface, Kate attempts to protect her by not allowing her to leave the house. Unfortunately for Kate, Jill disobeys her mother and seemingly escapes to Kirby's house.

In a panic, Kate and Sidney decide that they need to go get her but they are attacked by Ghostface before they can leave the house. After the disappearance of deputies Anthony Perkins and Deputy Hoss, Ghostface attacks Sidney and Kate. They run from the back door after seeing a reflection of the killer, only to have Kate die when she is stabbed in the back of the neck through the mail slot of the front door. Before she dies, she asks Sidney to, "Tell Jill I'm so sorry." However, it turns out that her own daughter, Jill was the one behind the Ghostface murders, thus she is directly responsible for her mother's death.

According to Jill, Kate had to die so she can "stay true to the original", referring to how she wanted to be like Sidney, whose mother was also murdered. She also states, "All I ever heard was Sidney this, and Sidney that, Sidney, Sidney, Sidney! You were always just so fucking special!" Jill, here, attributes Kate's incessant, competitive comparisons to Sidney as a reason for her psychopathy.

Family

 * Jill Roberts † - Daughter
 * Sidney Prescott - Niece
 * Maureen Prescott † - Sister
 * Neil Prescott - Brother-in-Law
 * Roman Bridger † - Nephew

Allies

 * Dewey Riley †
 * Judy Hicks †

Enemies

 * Charlie Walker † - Killer
 * Jill Roberts † - Daughter/Killer

Trivia



 * Kate's death represents her sister Maureen's so that Jill "could stay true to the original".
 * Kate, as a character in general, is based on her sister, Maureen. The fact she says to Sidney to tell Jill she is sorry is based on her creating a backstory.
 * Goof or an accomplice: Kate notices Hoss and Perkins are missing from out the front when she arrives back from grocery shopping.
 * Sidney notes how Kate's shopping is peculiar, which Kate responds, calling it a "stress-buster". It is possible Jill was aware her mother would not use her intuition and be focused on other trivial activities, possibly as an avoidance tactic.
 * This is still strange however, as logic would dictate this is dangerous and raise alarm bells for their lack of safety.
 * A deleted scene indicated Kate was also a "pill-popper" medicated parent that was neglectful in raising her child (explaining her absence during Olivia's gruesome death). It is possible that this occurrence would slip her mind through this idea. Though its deletion from the theatrical release leaves Kate in a much more illogical form.
 * Another major issue, however, is the blood left from stabbing the cops that would be visible from the streetlights.
 * There are fans that speculate Judy Hicks (who was killed ten years later) was a third killer, or Kate herself was involved somehow.
 * Kate is a realtor. (Script notes)
 * Kate is the second person to be killed by a relative: Her own daughter Jill Roberts. Jill would later be killed by Sidney.
 * In an old script side, she was a Prescott, Neil's sister.
 * Lauren Graham (who is 15 years younger than Mary McDonnell) was originally cast in the role, but dropped out days before principal photography due to script changes and scheduling conflicts.
 * In an old script, she was Maureen's "kid sister". Kate's age gap is much smaller than Maureen in the theatrical release following a last-minute casting change.
 * Kate uttered the words, "I'll be right back."
 * A deleted scene on the DVD shows Kate outside Olivia's house after Jill and Sidney are attacked. It shows her being in shock over Olivia's death, having taken a sleeping pill. She Sidney and Jill walk across the street as Kirby and Trevor look on.

Appearances

 * Scream 4 (2011 film)