Short screenplay from the Done Deal "Motel Macabre" contest,
       November 2007

       "Cause & Effect"

       FADE IN:

       EXT. BUS STOP - NIGHT

       A bus pulls away.  The exhaust fumes clear to reveal KATEE,
       a waif-like young woman with weary eyes.  She wears a plain
       dress and cheap shoes, and carries a battered leather
       suitcase.

       Across the road, the cheapest, crappiest broken-down motel
       ever built.  A neon VACAN_IES sign flickers in the office
       window, the second C unlit.

       Katee looks up and down the road, as if considering her other
       options.  She crosses to the motel, lugging the heavy suitcase
       after her.


       INT. MOTEL OFFICE - NIGHT

       The dirty old letch CLERK ogles Katee through grimy
       spectacles.  He likes what he sees.

                             CLERK
                 One night?

       Katee nods.  The Clerk slides a key across the counter.
       Katee slides a crumpled bill across.  He holds it up to the
       light, then nods OK.

                             CLERK
                 Hot water's extra.

       Katee ignores him and exits, dragging her suitcase.

                             CLERK
                 Young couple, next door to you, got
                 my best room.  You got second best.
                 Need a hand with your case?

       Katee doesn't answer or look back, the door shuts behind
       her.

                             CLERK
                 You little whore, bustin' out that
                 tight little dress, tempting a man.

       He slips his hand down inside his pants and grins as he gives
       himself pleasure.


       INT. KATEE'S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

       Katee opens the door, fumbles for a light switch.  A bare
       bulb brightens to reveal a bed with a big dent in the middle,
       as if an elephant just slept there.  Peeling walls.  Cockroach
       paradise.

       Katee kicks the door closed, dumps her suitcase and flops on
       the edge of the bed, exhausted.  She throws an arm over her
       eyes.


       EXT. KATEE'S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

       The Clerk sneaks up to the window.  There's a gap in the
       curtains that lets him see Katee lying on the bed, apparently
       asleep.

       His hand slips down inside his pants again and he grins.


       INT. KATEE'S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

       Katie moans in her sleep as if she's having bad dreams.


       EXT. KATEE'S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

       The Clerk is distracted by noises coming from the room next
       door -- rhythmic banging, a woman's lustful cries.  Someone's
       doing the dirty and enjoying it.

       The Clerk sneaks over to that other window and peeks inside.
       His hand slips down into his pants again and he grins.


       INT. KATEE'S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

       Katie uncovers her face as the banging and yelping noises
       reach her.

       She slowly sits up, swings her legs off the bed, all the
       while watching the wall that divides the two rooms.

       Other people might be annoyed at being disturbed.  Katee is
       scared.  As if she knows something bad's coming.

       Katee creeps over and presses her head against the wall.
       The woman's lustful cries become louder.  And now the man
       cries out too, his voice deeper, matching the banging noises.

       Katie's concern grows.  She squeezes her eyes tight shut.


       EXT. MOTEL ROOMS - NIGHT

       The Clerk groans in ecstasy and falls to his knees, his hand
       still stuck down inside his pants.

                             CLERK
                 Ooh mama, that's good, that's finger-
                 licking good you dirty tramp--

       Katee wrenches her door open and looks at him.  He falls
       forward so he's on his hands and knees.

                             CLERK
                 Looking for my keys.

       Katee stares at the next door along.

       The Clerk pushes himself up, he quickly wipes his hand on
       the back of his pants, then brushes dirt off his knees.

                             CLERK
                 I was just wondering, you know, if
                 you're hungry, I can make you a
                 sandwich, or something.  No charge.
                 Won't charge you a penny.  Got some
                 coffee, too.

                             KATEE
                 You have to call the police.

                             CLERK
                 Now hold on, no need for that, I was
                 just--

                             KATEE
                 Call the police before it's too late.
                 Please.

       Katee retreats inside and slams her door shut.

       The Clerk shakes his head and goes back to his office,
       mumbling.


       INT. KATEE'S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

       Katee leans back against the door and takes deep breaths.

       A high-pitched SCREAM from next door.  Katie covers her ears.
       Another SCREAM, even louder.

                             KATEE
                 Oh God no, not again, please God,
                 not again...

       Katee slides down the door and keels over onto her side,
       curling into fetal position.

       The SCREAMS grow louder, punctuated by THUMPING and CRASHING
       noises.

                             KATEE
                 Please God... no...

       The noise abruptly stops... no sound at all from next door.

       Katee lies there sobbing.


       EXT. MOTEL ROOMS - NIGHT

       Strobing red lights illuminate all the doors and windows.

       A handcuffed WOMAN, sobbing and shaking, her face and coat
       spattered with blood, is pushed into the back seat of a sedan
       by a uniformed COP.


       INT. MOTEL ROOM NEXT DOOR - NIGHT

       Standing in the doorway, the Clerk speaks with a stone-faced
       DETECTIVE in slouch hat and trenchcoat.

                             CLERK
                 We had this guy, back in sixty-four,
                 he cut up a couple of hookers, but
                 nothing like this.

       Gradually the room is revealed... Christ Almighty it's a
       slaughterhouse, blood spatter and handprints on the walls,
       the ceiling, the floor.

       Lying naked and thankfully face-down on the bed, a MAN.  Or
       what's left of him.  Blood pools around his crotch.

                             DETECTIVE
                 So what about the other girl, next
                 door?

                             CLERK
                 She took off before you guys got
                 here.

       The Clerk shakes his head, puzzled.

                             CLERK
                 Something she said, didn't make sense.

       The Cop comes up behind them.

                             COP
                 Meat wagon's here.

                             DETECTIVE
                 Tell him he's gotta wait for the
                 crime scene guys.  They're gonna
                 jerk off when they see this mess.
                      (to Clerk)
                 Didn't make sense, how?

                             CLERK
                 She said people get angry when she's
                 around.

       The Detective lights a cigarette and gestures at the mess.

                             DETECTIVE
                 Someone got angry, all right.


       EXT. BUS STOP - DAY

       A bus pulls in and stops for a moment then pulls away.  The
       exhaust fumes clear to reveal Katee and her suitcase.  She's
       looking more tired than ever.

       Across the road, another motel, VACANCIES in the window.

       Katee looks up and down the road, as if pondering her other
       options.  She crosses to the motel, lugging the heavy suitcase
       after her.

       Katee doesn't notice, behind her, a severe-looking building
       surrounded by a high fence with a sign that says:

       SWEET MEADOWS - ASYLUM FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE.

       FADE OUT:

                                                           10/07
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