Accommodations part III

BLACK

The screen dark and silent for 8 seconds.

Through the darkness sounds of a saw cutting into something hard. Like nails on a chalkboard, the sawing sound grinds away.

POV of eyes opening and vision coming into focus.

INT. BASEMENT

Shayna begins to be aware of her surroundings.

It is dark, cold, and damp. Stone walls glisten orange from the candles, but the brightest source of light comes from an oven built into the wall. The oven roars with fire. Unmarked barrels are placed in the corner of the room. Cleaned and displayed skeletons are lined up against the walls with tags hanging from their shoulders.

The owner stands in front of a work bench, facing away from Shayna. He saws away at what Shayna now realizes is the legs of a corpse.

Shayna tries to get up but she is being restrained by her feet and her arms stretched above her head.

She grunts and wiggles trying to free herself.

The sawing stops.

The owner turns around.

He smiles and walks to the side of the struggling girl.

OWNER

Good, your up. How was your sleep? I've 

been told that people leave here with the 

best rest of their lives.

SHAYNA

Let me go!

OWNER

Go? First, let me ask. Why did 

you become an actress?

SHAYNA

Your insane!

OWNER

It's hard for the normal people to tell the difference

between genius and insanity, so I won't hold that

against you. But, you didn't answer my question.

Shayna spits in his faces.

He squints his eyes and walks over to his work table.

He grabs a bloody rag and wipes his face. This rubs blood onto his face. He looks like a tribal warrior in war paint, wearing a suit.

He struts his way back to Shayna's side.

OWNER

You know what I think it is?

He aggressively crams the bloody rag into Shayna's mouth.

OWNER (CONT.)

There's a few different reasons it could be.

One, that you just need to be the center of attention.

You need to put yourself on display. And, with that I

can help.

He points to the skeletons against the wall.

OWNER (CONT.)

After I am done, that will be you. I will clean the 

meat from your bones and sell them 

to the university. Then, you will be on

display for young aspiring doctors.

BEAT

OWNER

Then again, there is another reason it could be. 

There are some people in your line of work 

who feel that they actually make a difference in 

people's lives. Now, you actually will have a 

chance to do good. Your organs will be 

sold to help people and save lives.

The owner taps his bloodstained temple with his finger.

OWNER

But, the real reason you do it? You want to entertain.

Although all the other goals are in vain, this one I get.

Who doesn't want to be entertained?

The owner paces around the room.

OWNER

You may be asking yourself, "What's this all about?"

Entertainment. Only if theater could capture the 

joy that I feel right now. Unfortunately for you, 

your story is at it's climax, and now it has to end.

The bell hop enters the basement through a stairwell in the back.

BELL HOP

Sir, our next guest has just arrived. Perhaps, you 

should clean up and greet them.

The owner looks at the bell hop and then back to Shayna.

OWNER

I'm a busy man. I'll have to get back with you later.

Hope I don't keep you waiting too long.

The owner turns and walks to the stairs.

The bell hop stays behind, standing near Shayna.

The owner stops at the bottom of the stairs.

OWNER

Are you coming?

BELL HOP

I have prepared everything I can up there. 

I was going to put some fuel in the fire. 

The way it looks now, you're going to

cook the flesh instead of burn it.

OWNER

You know, you have surprised me. I know you were...

 apprehensive, but I don't know if I could 

have done this without you.

The owner walks up the stairs.

The bell hop walks his way to the top of the table Shayna is strapped to.

He puts his hand on a wheel that controls the tension on her restraints.

SHAYNA

Please! Don't do this!

CLICK

The bell hop flicks the release lever on the wheel.

Shayna's straps loosen.

BELL HOP

We have no time to waste if we are going

to get out of here.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Accommodations Part II

INT. HALLWAY

The bell hop carries Shayna's bags and leads her down a long hallway.

They weave their way through a labyrinth of hallways. The sharp turns and awkward angles seem to make no sense. For Shayna, it feels like they have been walking in circles.

The bell hop stops and sets down Shayna's bags.

BELL HOP

Here it is...room 327.

The bell hop pulls the key out of his pocket.

He slides the golden key into the lock with unusual ease.

BELL HOP

Sometimes this door sticks. If you

just lift a bit and push...

He opens the door.

BELL HOP (CONT.)

it comes right open.

He hands Shayna the key.

BELL HOP

If you have any trouble, just pick up the
phone beside your bed and I'll already
be here waiting for you.

INT. ROOM 327

She walks into the room and sets her bags down beside the bed.

The door closes behind her.

The room is a pale green with gold accents. The room is windowless. A bed, a nightstand, a rotary phone, and an old radio are the only things that occupy the room.

She sits on the bed and sighs.

She falls back and drifts into sleep.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Shayna opens her eyes.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

She gets out of the bed and opens the door.

THE OWNER: a handsome man in an expensive, pin-striped, tailored suit; is standing in her doorway holding a bottle of wine. He is about 6 feet tall with a clean shaved face and slicked back hair.

He smiles excessively upon their meeting.

OWNER

Shayna, am I right?

SHAYNA

(skeptically)

Yeah, that's me.

OWNER

Wonderful! You're an actress, if my intel

 is correct. May I say, it is a pleasure

having you stay here. I brought this up

for you.

He hands her the bottle of wine.

OWNER (CONT.)

The construction crew found a huge

 stash of these in a storage room during

 the renovations. They are aged perfectly

and I've been giving them out to our most

meritorious guest.

SHAYNA

I don't know what to say...thank you.

But, I really need to get some rest.

So, if you don't mind, I'm going to try to sleep.

OWNER

Absolutely, I'm sorry for keeping you.

I have to ask before I go, what do you think

about the place?

SHAYNA

It's fine.

OWNER

I understand. It hasn't quite grown on

 you yet, but give it some time. By the

end of your stay, you'll never want to leave.

SHAYNA

I'm sure. Thanks again for the wine.

Shayna closes the door.

She puts her ear to the door.

She hears the fading clunks of the owner's dress shoes walking away.

CLUNK...CLUNK...CLUNK...CLUNK

Once the steps can no longer be heard, she quickly grabs her bags.

SHAYNA

This place is just a little to

creepy for me.

She hastily gets out of the room.

INT. HALLWAY

Shayna drags her bags through the winding corridors.

She turns each corner with no end in sight.

Finally she sees an "exit" sign in-front of a stairwell.

She spirals down the staircase, huffing her breath and clashing the wheels of her suitcase down each step.

She suddenly comes to a stop.

At the bottom of the stairs is a wall, preventing her from moving forward. The stairs lead to nothing.

Now in a complete panic, she runs back up the stairs.

She frantically works her way through the hallways once more.

Feeling hopeless, she bangs on the doors of the other rooms.

SHAYNA

Someone! Please help me!

No one responds to her pleas.

Knocking and running, it is hard for her to catch her breath.

She knocks on another door.

SHAYNA

Open the door! I need help!

Out of desperation, she pulls on the handle of a door.

It is unlocked and opens.

The doorway is blocked by aged bricks that have been laid from floor to ceiling.

She slides to the floor with her back supported against the brick wall and begins to sob.

She looks up and directly in front of her is room 327.

Shayna picks herself up off the floor and goes into her room, leaving the door open.

INT. ROOM 327

She grabs the rotary phone and holds the headset to her ear.

There is no dial tone.

The silence is broken by the old AM radio turning on.

Patsy Cline's "Crazy" starts playing.

Shayna slowly puts down the phone.

The door to the room slams shut and locks.

A HISSING sound is heard.

Shayna's breath deepens.

She staggers through the room.

Her vision becomes blurred.

She collapses on the floor as she loses consciousness.

A few seconds later the hissing sound stops.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY

The owner escorts the bell hop through the hallways, who is dragging Shayna's limp body from underneath her arms across the red carpet. 

The owner pushes a seemingly random spot on the wall, which opens a secret door.

Behind the door, is what looks like a large laundry shoot.

The bell hop lifts the actress up and shoves her headfirst into the opening.

She slides and tumbles as she disappears into a dark unknown.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Accommodations Part I

INT. MODERN HOME - BEDROOM - MORNING

Through large windows, the morning sun rays shine though the room. There are promotional posters on the wall of theatrical plays. The room is a collection of light color that accentuate the beautiful sun and perhaps the personality of its owner. 

SHAYNA, a young 20 something year old girl with blonde curly hair, is sitting at a desk in the corner in pajama bottoms and a white T-shirt. She is using a laptop and clicking on her mouse.

GUY,a man, begins to wake up in the bed behind her.

He stretches and yawns.

Shayna looks back for a second but quickly turns her focus back on the computer.

SHAYNA

(looking at the laptop)

Did you sleep okay?

GUY

Yeah, I guess.

(pause)

I kept having a weird dream.

SHAYNA

What was it about?

GUY

(confused)

I can't remember... that's so weird. All I can 

remember was that I was scared for someone. Why

can't I remember?

SHAYNA

(still looking at the computer)

Yeah, That's pretty weird.

GUY

What are you doing?

SHAYNA

I'm trying to find a place to stay.

GUY

Stay? Where are you going?

Shayna turns to look at Guy. 

SHAYNA

You never listen, do you?

Guy pauses to think for a second.

GUY

Your play? Is that already coming up?

SHAYNA

Coming up? It's already come up. 

I leave for Chicago in two days!

GUY

So what places are you looking at?

SHAYNA

I've actually stopped looking for a moment. 

I ran into this hotel called "World's Fair Hotel" 

and it has no reviews. I mean, the pictures

 of the place look nice. How is it that a hotel

 in downtown Chicago has literally zero reviews?

GUY

How much does it cost?

SHAYNA

It's toward the lower end of the price range. 

It's not in a bad neighbor hood. It is right

 across the street from the university biology 

building . . . Why does it have no reviews?

GUY

Well, you should be the first.

SHAYNA

That would be kind of fun. 

Shayna pauses to think for a moment.

SHAYNA 

(CONT.)

I'm going to do it. 

Can you pass me my credit card?

Guy reaches down to the side of the bed.

INT. KITCHEN - LATER

Guy is cooking dinner while Shayna reads a book at the counter.

GUY

Can you watch the food while I 

go to the bathroom?

SHAYNA

(inattentively)

Yep.

GUY

Okay. I'll try to be back quick.

Shayna continues to read as smoke starts to come from the pan.

Guy runs back into the kitchen a few seconds later just as the fire alarm begins to go off.

Shayna looks up from her book and sees Guy moving the pan off the burner and fanning the fire alarm.

SHAYNA

Burning down the house are we?

GUY

You were supposed to be watching it!

SHAYNA

Says who?

GUY

Says you. You said you would watch it for me.

SHAYNA

That doesn't sound like me. You know I 

don't like to cook.

Shayna lays down her book on the table and pulls out her phone.

She scrolls on her screen and taps it a few times.

SHAYNA

It's gone.

GUY

What's gone?

SHAYNA

The hotel. I went on the website to see if 

the price had went down since I made the reservation,

and it's gone.

GUY

Maybe it filled up.

SHAYNA

Yeah, I guess so. Means I'll probably 

have some competition to give the first review.

GUY

Well it's time to put your phone 

down. Dinner is ready.

SHAYNA

Yeah I kind of got that impression

when our house was telling us the

food was done.

GUY

Maybe my dream was about a fire?

I do seem to vaguely remember seeing fire.

SHAYNA

So your a fortune teller and a chef.

Boy, did I get a catch finding you.

EXT. SKY - DAY

A plane flies across the screen.

EXT. DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

A taxi pulls up to the front of an old brick hotel.

Shayna gets out of the car.

She grabs her bags from the trunk and walks into the building.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY

Shayna walks her way across a bright red carpet to the front desk, manned by a man in his forties. He is wearing a bell hop outfit from the early 1900's.

The man behind the counter isn't the only thing that looks out of date. The entire decor of the place is designed to look like it was lost in time. Black and white pictures of large crowds in front of the building are hanging from the wall. There are also pictures of men in lab coats standing in the lobby, some old and some new.

Besides Shayna and the smiling bell hop, there is no one in the lobby.

SHAYNA

Is this the World's Fair Motel?

BELL HOP

Yep. The one and only.

SHAYNA

You guys seem pretty busy.

BELL HOP

Yes. We are in a bit of a slow period right

now. We just re-opened not that long ago.

SHAYNA

Re-opened? It looks like this place has been

open since the beginning of time.

BELL HOP

(laughing)

You wouldn't be entirely wrong. This 

hotel is one of the oldest buildings

 in Chicago. The owner bought this

place when it was scheduled to be demolished.

He restored it to it's original state that

it was in back during the 1893 World's Fair.

SHAYNA

That's kind of cool . . . I guess.

The bell hop turns around to the wall behind him covered with room numbers and key hooks. One key hangs from the wall under room 327.

BELL HOP

Let me show you to your room.

TO BE CONTINUED...