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Midnight, Hotel Mystery Groove

Part Six

22. INT. THOMAS' HOTEL ROOM. MORNING.

There is a definite sense of silent desperation in the room.

WALTER
Why did you bring her here of all places?

THOMAS
I had to think fast. I was lucky I got away with her in the first place. I had to go under, you know, in case they recognized me.

PEGGY
What are we going to do?

Long silence. Then, a knock at the door. Reflexively, WALTER goes to the door and opens it. SID stands there with a glass of juice in his hand.

SID
Hi there, I'm your next door neighbor, Sid. I think I can help with your, uh, your little problem.

23. INT. HOTEL LOBBY. MORNING.

The smartly dressed MAN and WOMAN stride past the two OLD MEN. After a pause, SAMANTHA comes flying past as well.

OLD MAN #1
Exciting morning, huh.

OLD MAN #2
If we wait long enough, maybe we get to see another tied up chick.

24. INT. THOMAS HOTEL ROOM. MORNING.

SID smiles, tries to look harmless.

SID
Look, I, uh, I know how it sounds, but, uh... I got some experience with escaping programming, right? They, uh... they had me in rehab once, court order. I got caught transporting a metric fuckload of ganja across state lines. Those fucking Minnesota cops, I just, you know, I mean, fuck. Anyways, I, uh... well, lets just say I hated that fuckin' experience. They don't fuckin' know from a drug problem, those fuckin-- They thought they could break me. Get me to toe the party line, you understand? Get me to spout off about how drugs are wrong and the government is good and god bless the partnership for an intelligence-free America and dare to keep your kids off reality for fuck's sake, I mean, fuck. BUT I SHOWED THOSE BASTARDS! (smiles again) Anyways, I, uh, I got something here. Make her drink some of this, then we'll knock loose some of that programming. Believe you me, I can help.

Long pause. WALTER looks to PEGGY, who looks to THOMAS. THOMAS glances at JESSICA, then back to SID.

THOMAS
You got LSD in there or what?

SID
(smiling) Just like my Uncle Al usedta make it.

As SID stands there, the smartly dressed MAN and WOMAN appear behind him and then take a step into the room. The WOMAN smoothly grabs the glass from SID on her way in.

WOMAN
Of course, you'll have to take the gag off to give this to her.

MAN
Hello, Thomas.
      (he removes a sleek black pistol from his coat)
We'll be taking Jessica back with us.

WALTER
Who on earth are you?

MAN
We're her real family, Walter. And we're taking her back.
      (pause)
Melissa, please untie Jessica.

MELISSA smiles, easily dumps the glass of juice out onto the floor.

SID
Hey, that was my LSD!

The MAN shoots him a vicious glance.

SID
Oh, hey, I got plenty more, I'm just sayin'.

The room is silent as MELISSA crosses to the bed, and unties first JESSICA's feet, and then JESSICA's hands. JESSICA sits up slowly and removes the gag from her mouth. And then, JESSICA stands and smiles and crosses slowly to THOMAS, and their eyes meet.

JESSICA
You silly, silly boy.
      (pause)
I didn't simply "join a cult."
      (pause)
I started one.

And then she turns and opens her mouth as if to sing, and we cut to a shot from above, of the whole room, as it is filled with an unearthly, beautiful song.

There are a series of dissolves, from one closeup to the next: first PEGGY, her eyes suddenly opening wide; and WALTER, a look of sudden shock and bliss on his face; and SID, stunned as though he were suddenly on the best drug on the planet; and the MAN and WOMAN, smiling as though they've been reunited with something incredibly special; and finally THOMAS, gripping his ears as the unearthly music fills the room. It sounds as though several voices are singing at once, and he tries to fight it at first, but then finds himself slowly drawn to JESSICA. He looks up, and her eyes are closed and she is singing passionately.

25. INT. FRONT DESK. MORNING.

SAMANTHA tries one last time to wrangle a dollar from the OWNER.

SAMANTHA
C'mon, Mitch. I just need one measly dollar.

OWNER
Get lost, Samantha.

SAMANTHA
Cmon, Mitch!

And then, a procession comes through the lobby, moving slowly, the song from upstairs somehow following them. JESSICA is leading them, smiling, holding THOMAS hand as he walks beside her, dazed. WALTER and PEGGY walk behind them, equally dazed, almost hypnotized. The smartly dressed MAN and WOMAN are behind them, and bringing up the rear is a pleasantly dazed SID.

SAMANTHA notices SID.

SAMANTHA
Hey, where the hell are you going?

SID
Gotta go, sweetheart. I left the stash upstairs for you.

SAMANTHA
What do you mean, you gotta go?

SID (as the procession leaves the building)
Goodbye, sweetheart! God bless America!

The procession vanishes, and SAMANTHA and the OWNER are left staring after them.

SAMANTHA
What the hell's going on around here? God bless America? WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT CRACK ARE YOU SMOKING, SID?

OWNER (surprised despite himself)
I bet it'll cost you more than a dollar to find that out.

26. EXT. FRONT OF HOTEL. MORNING.

Wide shot from above. We see the entire procession pile into the black sedan.

Close up, THOMAS opening the front passenger door for JESSICA.

THOMAS
Where did you learn to sing like that?

JESSICA
Karaoke, mostly.

THOMAS
That's real fucking good, sweetie.

JESSICA (smiles)
Thanks.

She gets in and he closes the door. As THOMAS gets in the drivers side, we pull back and fade out as the car drives away...


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