Trudie (Stab)

Trudie is a fictional character who appears in Scream 4 (2011 film). In the opening scene of the film, she appears in the Scream universe opening scene of Stab 6 (2009 fictional film-within-a-film), the sixth instalment of the slasher franchise, Stab, no longer based on true events after the original trilogy.

She also appears in archive footage as the opening of Stab 7 (2010 fictional film) in a fake-out (in the way that it is a fake-out for audiences watching Scream 4) which establishes the previous six Stab films as fiction and a movie franchise. Kristen Bell's Chloe character enjoys her death scene, while Anna Paquin's Rachel character dislikes it.

She is portrayed by actress Shenae Grimes in both real-life and the Scream universe. In the opening scene of Stab 6, she is the first victim of the Facebook Ghostface killer.

Opening scene of Stab 6 (2009 fictional film)
Trudie and Sherrie get ready to watch a scary movie in the opening of Stab 6. Sherrie has suggested Saw IV (2007). Trudie rejects this, saying she hates the movie due to having "no character development" and its torture porn nature.

Meanwhile, her friend Sherrie defends the Saw franchise by saying that Jigsaw is a creative killer. Trudie then reveals she has a Facebook stalker, who she types to on her Sidekick phone. She thinks he is hot; upon showing Sherrie, Trudie is informed "that's Channing Tatum... from his Abercrombie days."

Then, Trudie and Sherrie get phone calls from Ghostface. Trudie panics. When Ghostface calls them Sherrie picks it up and after he says he will kill her she gives the phone to Trudie. Trudie asks Sherrie if the door is locked and goes to see if it is locked. The phone rings again but they don't answer.

Ghostface then sends Trudie a text message about that they should open the door. Trudie starts to panic but a fearless Sherrie opens the door and realizes no one is there.

Trudie gets a text message that Ghostface is right beside her. Suddenly, Ghostface appears and stabs Trudie in the chest, almost immediately killing her. Sherrie watches and attempts to flee, only to be murdered by another Ghostface.

Meta universe revelation in opening of Scream 4 (2011)
The audience discovers the characters are actually a part of the Stab sequel, Stab 6. Four more Stab films have been made since Stab 2 (1999) and they are similar to/parody the back-to-back releases of the Saw franchise.

Stab 7 (2010 fictional film)
The deaths of Sherrie and Trudie are viewed by Rachel (played by Anna Paquin) and Chloe (played by Kristen Bell). It initially appears to be our world, where Scream (1996 film) is a fictional film, but it turns out to be set in the "real world" of the Scream universe, which establishes Sidney Prescott as the real person, and Tori Spelling as the actress who plays her.

Thus, the scene is actually from Stab 7,which is set in the "Real World". As a "real-world" instalment of the Stab films, it establishes the previous six films as fictional. Chloe (portrayed by Kristen Bell) appears to be a Stab fanatic killer (foreshadowing the later Stab fanatic real-life killer, Charlie Walker).

The sequence appears to be a reference to the 1994 meta-horror seventh Nightmare on Elm Street film, titled Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994 film). In the film, Heather Langenkamp plays a fictional version of herself, an actress who portrayed Nancy "in the real world", and must now reprise the role, following her apparent death in the third film, as the horrors of Freddy Kruger become a meta real-world reality.

Second meta revelation in opening of Scream 4 (2011)
Jenny and Marnie are seen watching the movie. Kirby, Charlie and Trevor later watch Trudie and Sherrie's opening scene in Stab 6 at Kirby's after-party, situated at her residence, 329 Whispering Lane.

Quotes

 * "Argh, I saw that in the theaters. It sucks. It's not scary, it's gross. I hate all that torture porn shit." Referring to Saw IV
 * "Let's call the cops!"
 * "It says 'I'm not outside, I'm right beside you.'" Reading the text Ghostface sent her
 * "Don't, I'm scared!"
 * "But you don't give a shit who dies...because there's no character development."

Trivia

 * The script describes her as "Trudie, 16, a sexy, pretty. Tells it like it is. Trudie is snacking on chips while TEXTING on her SIDEKICK. Two friends hanging out." With Shenae Grimes' casting, she is obviously somewhat older.
 * Her role was written after two rejected opening sequence: Kevin Williamson's original envisioned opening sequence featured Sidney Prescott attacked by Ghostface, which he described as a 15-minute stabbing brawl to the death. This would have been followed by a two-three year time skip was rejected.
 * However, Bob Weinstein expressed concerns for how this would affect the film's pacing.
 * As a result, a large 15-minute sequence featuring Kristen Stewart as the first victim, in Casey Becker/Drew Barrymore style was planned (presumably as Jenny Randall).
 * However, Stewart expressed skepticism about being apart of a scene that could live up to the original scene with Drew Barrymore, so the plan was scrapped. This led to the meta larger sequence of six female characters (and two true victims), as confirmed by Kristen Stewart herself in a 2022 interview.