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§