Wrongly Accused: The Maureen Prescott Murder is the name of the debut novel of Top Story journalist and reporter, Gale Weathers, mentioned in Scream (1996 film) and Scream (2022 film). It was published in 1995 (according to a promotional website for Scream 3) or (more likely) 1996.
Unlike her future bibliography, its official title is never seen or mentioned on-screen in canon (only through promotional material for Scream 3), therefore making its title uncertain in canon. As a journalist, Weathers alleged in tabloid stories that Cotton Weary, a man convicted of rape and murder, was innocent. Weary was convicted for the killing of 44-year-old Maureen Prescott, a housewife from Woodsboro, California in late-September 1995.
Prescott's relations with Cotton were believed to be non-consensual due to her married status with Neil Prescott. Gale Weathers, however, launched an investigation, believing his story of their affair and also suspecting he was framed. She also questioned the credibility of Maureen's grief-stricken 16-year-old daughter, Sidney Prescott following the high-profile trial which convicted him.
It is Weathers' first novel, sometime re-published by Sunset True Crime books for the Ghostface book series collective. The publisher's affiliated film studio, Sunrise Studios, later financed and adapted its successor into a successful horror franchise, Stab (1997—2021; continuity error).
It was written before the Woodsboro Murders of September 1996 where Maureen Prescott's true killers were revealed to be Woodsboro High students, Billy Loomis and Stu Macher. Following the truth being revealed, sales increased and her debut novel gained an insurgence of popularity.
Films[]
Scream (1996)[]
After Sidney is attacked by Ghostface at her home, she is taken to the Woodsboro Police Department accompanied by Tatum and Dewey Riley. Before leaving the precinct, they are trialed by Gale going live for an interview about Sidney's attack.
Tatum attempts to push Gale away, but Sidney plays a coy persona and asks how the book is going with fake pleasant gestures. Gale says it will be out by the end of the year. Sidney, walking away at this point, says "Oh! I'll look for it". Gale, oblivious to the pretence, tries to continue the interview and says, "I'll send you a copy!" smiling. This enrages Sidney, who then punches her for the remark.
Later at school, Sidney recalls the trial and Gale's tabloid stories about her, which Sidney calls "bullshit theories" about Cotton's innocence. She asks if she still believes it, to which Gale responds, "Your testimony put him away, it doesn't really matter what I think". Gale intuits that Sidney is having doubts about her eye-witness testimony, and further reinforcing the likelihood that the new killer and Maureen's killer are related.
Scream 2 (1997)[]
Gale finds Sidney at Windsor College and abruptly attempts to interview her with Cotton Weary, the subject of her debut novel. Gale starts the interview without Sidney's consent, mentioning Sidney has just been reunited with Cotton for the first since she wrongly accused him of murdering her mother. Sidney, upset, asks her, "What the hell are you doing?"
After Cotton says he forgives her, Sidney aggresses towards Gale, but is pulled away by her boyfriend, Derek Feldman. Gale attempts to talk to her again and is once again backhanded like the previous time.
Scream (2022)[]
Gale claims if she hadn't wrote the book, none of what has happened would've occurred. Sidney heavily objects, clearly having long forgiven Gale.
Scream VI[]
The book appears in the Ghostface Shrine, having been apart of Richie Kirsch's personal collection. This is the first time the book is actually seen on-screen.
Trivia[]
Other books[]
The order of Gale's published books, as seen on her desk in Scream 4 or in the shrine in Scream VI. In overall chronological order:
- Wrongly Accused (Mentioned in Scream; Never seen until Scream VI in the Ghostface Shrine.
- The Woodsboro Murders (Gale's first book on Ghostface based on the 1996 Woodsboro Murders. Seen in Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4 and Scream VI.
- College Terror (Mentioned in Scream 3; Easter egg on Gale's desk and in Jill's room in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; 1998 book; adapted into Stab 2 released in 1999)
- Stabbed In The Back (Seen in Scream VI; Gale's book detailing the shady past of Sunrise Studios)
- Hollywood Horror (Easter egg on Gale's desk in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; 2000 book; adapted into Stab 3: Hollywood Horror released in 2006)
- Knife of Doom (Seen in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; adapted into Stab 4 released in 2007)
- Clock of Doom (Seen in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; adapted into Stab 5 released in 2008)
- Ghostface Returns (Fiction; Easter egg on Gale's desk and in Jill's room; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; released 2000s decade; adapted into Stab 6 released in 2009)
- Knife of the Hunter (Fiction; adapted into Stab 7 released in 2010; Easter egg on Gale's desk; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI).
- Requel: Terror Returns To Woodsboro (Non-fiction; Gale's latest book based upon the 2022 Woodsboro Murders).