Short screenplay from the Done Deal "Motel Macabre" contest,
November 2007.
"Diva"
FADE IN:
INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
The cheapest furniture and decor. A tiny TV set.
The door's kicked open and BLAYNE a tough unshaven PI type
enters with his gun drawn. He swings left and right, just
like they do on cop shows. He opens the closet. Checks out
the bathroom.
BLAYNE
Clear!
A man and woman enter. She takes off her sunglasses, whips
off her head scarf. KAYEESHA, 30s, is beautiful and angry.
CARTER, 40s, closes the door and turns on the lights.
KAYEESHA
Hey, Wyatt Earp! Lose the hardware.
Nobody's here 'cept us.
CARTER
Blayne, would you be so kind as to
bring in the bags?
Blayne slides his gun into his underarm rig and exits outside.
KAYEESHA
Can't believe you talked me into
this.
CARTER
Now Kayeesha, you have to trust me.
Every hotel in town is surrounded by
media armies, all looking for you.
KAYEESHA
Since when were you shy of publicity?
CARTER
Until your role is officially
announced, I don't want anyone asking
you questions. The wrong answer
could prove catastrophic.
KAYEESHA
This dump stinks.
CARTER
It's only for one night. Tomorrow
we meet with the lawyers and sign
the contract. Then we'll call a
press conference. Right after that,
we'll move you into the penthouse
suite at the Marriott.
Kayeesha sits on the bed, bounces to test the mattress.
KAYEESHA
Got it all figured out.
CARTER
Ten. Million. Dollars.
KAYEESHA
Fifteen percent of which is yours.
CARTER
You grudge me my fee for re-launching
your career?
KAYEESHA
My career was doing just fine.
CARTER
I forget the name of your last
blockbuster. Remind me? Oh yes,
"The Octopus From Beyond Space."
That talented Russian director. He
kept calling you his little Milla
Jojovich. Remember how he laughed
when you picked up the pulse rifle
and keeled over with the weight?
Kayeesha glares, if hate could kill Carter would be dead.
Blayne enters carrying designer suitcases and a hold-all.
He dumps them behind the door.
BLAYNE
Need anything else?
KAYEESHA
I could do with a foot rub.
CARTER
We're okay, thanks.
Blayne exits, closing the door.
KAYEESHA
Is the man deaf? I said I wanted a
foot rub.
CARTER
He isn't here to rub your feet, he's
here to protect you.
KAYEESHA
Can't he do both?
Carter unzips the hold-all, takes out a thermos flask,
sandwiches in plastic packets. Kayeesha watches, curious.
KAYEESHA
I'm sorry, what--?
CARTER
In case you get hungry.
KAYEESHA
You have got to be kidding me. And
where will you be?
CARTER
I have a couple of telephone
conferences scheduled. Then possibly
dinner.
KAYEESHA
Son of a bitch, you're sleeping in a
hotel, aren't you?
CARTER
It's just for tonight. Blayne will
be outside, no one will get by him.
KAYEESHA
So I'm supposed to...?
CARTER
Relax. Watch TV. I had your maid
pick a selection of clothing from
your hangar-size wardrobe. Perhaps
you could look something out for
tomorrow's meeting?
KAYEESHA
Well... I suppose I could.
CARTER
I need you ready to roll for nine-
thirty. Meeting's at ten. Do-able?
KAYEESHA
I'm not a child.
CARTER
It's going to be great. You're going
to be right up there with the big
hitters. Twenty, twenty-five million
a picture after this, no problem.
Hold that thought. See you tomorrow.
Carter exits leaving Kayeesha alone.
Kayeesha lies down on the bed, but can't get comfortable.
She sits up and points the remote at the TV. She stabs
several buttons but the TV doesn't come on. She throws the
remote on the bed.
She tries to open a sandwich packet but breaks a fingernail.
Enraged, she throws the packet on the floor and jumps up and
down on it.
Blayne opens the door and peeks in.
BLAYNE
Everything okay?
KAYEESHA
Who are you, my chaparone? Get out!
The room telephone RINGS startling them. Blayne signals to
Kayeesha, don't answer, but Kayeesha lifts the receiver.
KAYEESHA
Yes?
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
It's you, isn't it? I know it's
you. You're her.
KAYEESHA
Who is this?
Blayne snatches the receiver and listens. He hangs up.
BLAYNE
Did you recognize the voice?
KAYEESHA
No. Maybe it was the manager. Maybe
he just wanted to--
BLAYNE
He was paid plenty to leave you alone.
Did you tell anyone you were coming
here?
KAYEESHA
How could I? Carter didn't even
tell me where we were--
BLAYNE
Someone must have recognized you.
They followed us here without me
seeing them. That means they're
professionals. You could be in
danger.
Blayne left the door open -- Kayeesha sees something outside --
she gasps, points...
Blayne spins round, draws his gun, takes aim at a limping
figure approaching the motel room. Too dark to make out
features. Kayeesha cowers behind Blayne, terrified.
BLAYNE
Stop or I will shoot!
The figure keeps coming. BLAM! The figure staggers but
keeps coming. BLAM! The figure staggers again but keeps
coming.
BLAYNE
Why won't he die? WHY WON'T YOU
DIE?!
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! etc. until Blayne's gun clicks empty.
The figure makes it to the door -- soaked in blood, face
screwed up in agony, a GEEKY TEEN wearing a baseball cap and
clutching a blood-spattered manuscript. He sees Kayeesha.
He smiles.
GEEKY TEEN (FORMERLY MALE VOICE)
It is you! I knew it...
He slowly slumps to the floor, falls into the room, his dead
arm extended, as if offering the manuscript to Kayeesha.
Blayne gives the body a cautious kick. He picks up the
manuscript, examines it.
"TEH OCTOPUS FROM BEYOND SPACE II
WRITTED BY
KAYEESHA'S #1 FAN !!!"
Kayeesha rushes into Blayne's arms.
KAYEESHA
You saved my life! Thank you, thank
you. Who was that crazy person?
BLAYNE
Just some wannabe.
Blayne kisses her hard. They fall onto the bed together.
FADE OUT
10/07
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