Cut to the mid-’80s. Xavier (Cody Fern), Montana (Billie Lourd), Ray (DeRon Horton) and Chet (Gus Kenworthy) are enjoying a “summer-cize” workout class alongside newcomer Brooke (Emma Roberts).
In the locker room, Montana introduces herself to Brooke and explains that she’s trying to become the “greatest aerobics competitor of all time.” In the lobby, they approach the guys, who are chatting about a recent murder involving a serial killer, dubbed The Night Stalker.
After Brooke introduces herself, Xavier reveals that he isn’t taking any chances with The Night Stalker. So, he’s getting out of town and working as a counselor at Camp Redwood. Xavier suggests they follow suit, saying, “You don’t want to be in town this summer, it could cost you your life.”
Everyone agrees except for Brooke, who politely declines, since she’s already enrolled in school. Still, she gets Montana’s phone number…just in case.
Later that night, Brooke is sleeping in her apartment when she’s awoken by—you guessed it—The Night Stalker (Zach Villa). He parades her around, demanding to know where she keeps her jewelry. Right on cue, Brooke gets her hands on a frying pan and whacks him in the head, freeing herself from his grip.
When a neighbor bangs on the front door, claiming he called the police, The Night Stalker escapes through the window—but not before saying he’ll be back to finish the job.
The next day, Brooke is driving with the rest of the group to Camp Redwood. When they stop at a gas station called Roy’s Gas n’ Grab, Xavier parts from the group and checks his answering machine only to discover a threatening message. Based on his expression, it’s not the first one he’s received.
At the car, the gas attendant, Roy (Don Swayze), is beyond terrified when he overhears their destination. “Turn around. Go back to the city,” he says. “You’re all gonna die.”
Back on the road, Brooke appears to be the only one who’s concerned about Roy’s comment. Just then, a mysterious hiker (Lou Taylor Pucci) darts from the woods in front of Xavier’s car, and he has no choice but to hit him. Although the hiker appears to have new (and old) injuries, they grab his body and continue on their way to camp in search of a medic.
Upon arrival, they’re greeted by the camp’s owner, Margaret Booth (Leslie Grossman), who quickly ushers the hiker to the infirmary. After receiving a tour of the grounds, the group sits down around the campfire, where Nurse Rita (Angelica Ross) brings up the 1970 murders committed by Benjamin Richter (aka Mr. Jingles).
“How did we get these jobs with no prior experience?” Rita asks. “That’s because anybody who knows anything about Camp Redwood doesn’t want to be in Camp Redwood.”