Room 8

A short film
By

Phillip Richards

(971)409-8781
keylight2@hotmail.com
EXT. THE MOTEL - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
A car pulls into the empty parking lot of an isolated motel
located in flat, desolate country.

A man, (SLIM), mid thirties, average in every way, gets out

of the car, enters the office.

INT. THE MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Late 60s decor. A bit run down, but clean. Two single
beds separated by a nightstand. A table and two chairs.
SLIM tosses his suitcase on one of the beds, thinks for a
moment, then slides it underneath. He grabs an ice bucket
and exits, leaving the door ajar.

EXT. THE MOTEL - DAY

As hes filling the ice bucket he sees a car enter the lot
and park next to his. A man, (BIG GUY), gets out; mid
forties, large. He takes a gym bag from the back seat and
enters SLIMs room.
SLIM
Hey! Hey!

SLIM runs to his room.

INT. THE MOTEL ROOM - DAY

SLIM bursts into the room as BIG GUY tosses the gym bag on
the bed closest to the door.
SLIM
Excuse me. What do you think youre
doing?

BIG GUY picks up the gym bag and tosses it onto the other
bed.
BIG GUY
Sorry. Ill take this one, no
problem.
SLIM
This is my room. You need to leave.
 2.

BIG GUY
Say, this aint bad. I had my
doubts before I came in
here. Place looks kinda crummy on
the outside, but this is okay. Boy,
what a day. Im gonna sleep like
the dead tonight.
SLIM
Youre not listening to me. This is
my room. You have to get out.

BIG GUY takes the phone book from the nightstand, sits at
the table and looks through it.
BIG GUY
I gotta warn you, I snore like a
buzzsaw. Hope you got earplugs.
SLIM calls the front desk on the room phone.
DESK CLERK (V.O.)
(all his dialogue is filtered)
Front desk.
SLIM
Theres a man in my room and he
wont leave.

DESK CLERK (V.O.)

Yes, sir.
a beat
SLIM
I need you to come down here and
make him leave.
DESK CLERK (V.O.)
Yes, sir.

a beat.
SLIM
Hello? Are you there?

DESK CLERK (V.O.)

Yes, sir, Im here.
SLIM
Did you hear what I said?
 3.

DESK CLERK (V.O.)

Yes, sir, I heard you.
SLIM
So, what are you going to do about
it?

DESK CLERK (V.O.)

Ill take care of it, sir.
SLIM
Okay. Thank you.
SLIM hangs up.
BIG GUY punches a number from the phone book into his cell
phone.

BIG GUY
Yeah, I want to order a large pizza
with everything. (to SLIM) That
okay?

SLIM glares at him, walks to the door, opens it and steps

out, looking for the desk clerk who isnt in sight.
BIG GUY (CONTD.)
(into the phone)
Yeah. Does that come with
anchovies? Okay, throw some on
there. Wait a minute. (to SLIM) You
want anchovies?
SLIM looks at him, then back in the direction of the office.
Still no desk clerk.

BIG GUY (CONTD.)

(into the phone) Okay, make it
half anchovies. You got
beer? No, thats okay. Gimme
two large cokes. Yeah. No,
deliver it. The motel...hang
on. (to SLIM) Hey, whats the
name of this dump? (He
listens to the phone) Yeah,
the motel, you know where it
is? Okay. How long...okay,
well be here. No, thank you.
He disconnects.
 4.

BIG GUY (CONTD.)

Itll be here in a half hour.
SLIM gives him another dirty look, then walks to the office.

INT. THE MOTEL OFFICE - DAY

SLIM enters. DESK CLERK is behind the counter looking
attentive, smiling warmly.

His clothing is immaculately clean. Pants pressed with sharp

creases. Hair perfectly combed. His name badge is polished
and perfectly straight above his pocket.
Pens, pencils, registration cards and promotional pamphlets
are squared up and perfectly aligned on the counter. The
pencils are each sharpened to precisely the same length.
The scene from an episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" where
Dick opens a closet door and walnuts come spilling out is on
the TV in the background.

SLIM
What are you still doing here? You
said you were coming to my room.
DESK CLERK
I dont believe I said that, sir.

SLIM
Look...whatever. That man is still
in my room. What are you going to
do about it?

DESK CLERK
Sir, our policy forbids employees
from getting involved in the
personal matters of our guests. If
youre having some sort of
disagreement with
your...companion...well, thats
something youll have to work out
between yourselves.
SLIM
Hes not my companion. I dont know
the man. Hes a complete stranger.
DESK CLERK
Yes, I know that it can sometimes
feel like that.
 5.

SLIM
What? Look, could you just go down
there and make him leave?
DESK CLERK
Im afraid I cant do that, sir.
SLIM
Let me speak to the manager.
DESK CLERK
The manager isnt here at the
moment.
SLIM
Then whos in charge here?

DESK CLERK
I am sir.
SLIM
Isnt there someone else? Dont you
have someone in charge of security?

DESK CLERK
Im in charge of security, sir.
SLIM
Then get that man out of my room!

DESK CLERK
Please, sir. Theres no reason to
raise your voice.
SLIM
Yes there is! Get your ass down
there and deal with this!
DESK CLERK
Sir -

SLIM
Now!
DESK CLERK
Sir, I...would you like some extra
towels?
SLIM
What?
 6.

DESK CLERK
If theres going to be two of you
youll need extra towels.
SLIM
Are you fucking kidding me?
DESK CLERK
No, sir. I can get them for you
now.

SLIM
So youre not going to do anything
about this?
DESK CLERK
I offered you extra towels, sir.

SLIM glares at him for a moment; exits.

INT. THE MOTEL ROOM - DAY

SLIM enters. He pulls his suitcase from under the bed and
heads for the door.
BIG GUY
Hold up, pardner. You dont want
to do that.

SLIM goes out the door. BIG GUY follows him. SLIM gets in
his car as BIG GUY types on his phone, then shows the screen
to SLIM (we cant see it).
BIG GUY
Thats you, aint it?
SLIM looks at the screen.
SLIM
What are you going to do about it?
BIG GUY
Nothin. None of my business.
SLIM
I had my reasons, you know.
BIG GUY shrugs, gives him a look that says "none of my
business".
 7.

BIG GUY
Best thing for you right now is to
stay off the roads. Im just
sayin.

SLIM thinks. BIG GUY opens the car door. SLIM hesitates,
then gets out of the car, taking his suitcase. He goes back
to the room. BIG GUY follows. SLIM tosses the suitcase on
the bed and sits in a chair.
SLIM
So what do we do now?
BIG GUY
I guess we wait for the pizza to
get here.

He turns on the TV. The opening credits of "The Twilight

Zone" is on.
SLIM
Turn that off.

BIG GUY
This is a great show. A classic.
SLIM
I never watch TV. I dont even own
one.

BIG GUY
You dont have to watch it.
SLIM glares at him.

INT. THE MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

SLIM and BIG GUY are eating the pizza at the table. "Law
And Order" is on the TV. Theyre both staring at it without
really looking at it.
BIG GUY pours Jack Daniels into the sodas and stirs them
with his finger. He takes a swig.
BIG GUY
Oh, yeah. Thatll put hair on your
chest.
SLIM
I had reasons.
 8.

BIG GUY
Yeah, you said that. Who you trying
to convince, me or you?
SLIM
What are you doing here?
BIG GUY
I guess thats the big question,
isnt it? Why are any of us here?

SLIM
No, no, no. Why are you here?
BIG GUY
Oh, you mean...I guess Im here to
talk this thing over with
you. Help you figure out what to
do.
SLIM
So you drove out to the middle of
fucking nowhere just to talk to
me.
BIG GUY thinks.
BIG GUY
I guess you could say that, yeah.

SLIM
You knew I was going to be here.
BIG GUY
It would appear so.

SLIM
How would you know that?
BIG GUY
Whenever youre through beatin
around the bush and you want to
talk about whats really on your
mind, let me know.
a beat

SLIM
Shit. What the fuck was I
thinking? What am I going to do?
 9.

BIG GUY
There it is. (a beat) So...what
were you thinking?
SLIM
She was cheating on me. And she was
doing it with that asshole Nick.
BIG GUY
Okay, so she was playing hide the
sausage with Nick. So what?

SLIM
So what? I caught them. In my own
house. He was...he was...
BIG GUY
Givin it to her in the poop chute?
SLIM
Yeah. How did you know -
BIG GUY
Lucky guess. So he was cornholing
her. I ask again, so what?
SLIM
She never did that with me. But she
let that thug do it to her. And
she liked it. You shouldve heard
her.
BIG GUY
Did you ever ask her to do
it? Maybe thats all you had to
do.
SLIM
No. God, no. I never wouldve...I
didnt want to...do ...that.

BIG GUY
Okay, you lost me.
SLIM
Whose idea do you think it was? You
think she offered or did he ask
her?
BIG GUY
What difference does it make?
 10.

SLIM
I was her husband, if she was going
to do...that...with someone, it
shouldve been with me.
BIG GUY
But you just said -
SLIM
I know, I know. I cant...Im not
thinking straight.
BIG GUY
No shit. Look, I guess I get why
you blew her away. I mean, I dont
approve or anything, but I can
kinda see your point of view. But
plugging this Nick fella, now that
was uncalled for. Also pretty
fucking stupid.

SLIM
Is that why youre here? Did Nicks
family send you after me?
BIG GUY
Me? You think Im some kinda hit
man?
SLIM
Are you?
BIG GUY
(chuckling)
Naw. But I think you can count on
them sending someone.
SLIM
Yeah. They will. Shit.
BIG GUY
So...?
SLIM looks questioningly at him.

BIG GUY (CONTD.)

Why did you pop Nick?
A beat

SLIM
Did you ever have a really nice
car? I mean, like, a car you really
loved?
 11.

BIG GUY stares at him.

SLIM (CONTD)
I did. 1964 Camaro SS. It was
perfect, every inch of it. Not a
ding, not a scratch, the sun hit it
just right and it fucking
glowed. God, I loved that car.
BIG GUY stares at him.

SLIM (CONTD)
One day I come out of Walmart and
theres a ding in the right rear
quarter panel. Not a huge dent,
just a scrape really, about the
size of your hand.

BIG GUY continues to stare.

SLIM (CONTD)
I freaked out. Right there in the
parking lot, I was screaming at the
top of my lungs. All these people
were looking at me like I was some
kind of crazy person.
BIG GUY raises his eyebrows.

SLIM (CONTD)
Okay, I guess I was crazy at that
moment. But my perfect car was
mutilated. This thing I loved was
never going to be the same. Even if
I patched it and repainted it so
youd never know it had happened,
Id know that it was damaged, that
it wasnt perfect anymore. Thats
what I felt when I saw Nick doing
that to my wife. I just lost it.

BIG GUY
What a load of horseshit. I mean, I
like cars as much as the next guy,
but some dude rear ends your wife
and you think that gives you the
right to go all Tarantino on his
ass?
SLIM
I didnt think youd understand.
 12.

BIG GUY
No one would understand because
its bullshit. You ask me, I think
you offed him for the money.

SLIM
What money?
BIG GUY
The money in that suitcase over
there. The money Nick was totin
around when he decided to drop in
on your wifey for a quick one.
SLIM
Okay, now I get it. The money.
Thats why youre here.

He goes to the suitcase, opens it, takes out a gun.

SLIM (CONTD)
Just in case you get any ideas.

BIG GUY
I swear, you are the most
untrusting person Ive ever met,
you know that? I dont care about
your damn money.

SLIM
Yeah, right.
BIG GUY
You know what your problem is? You
need to relax. Youre all tense. I
can see it in your shoulders,
theyre all bunched up.
SLIM
Youre out of your fucking mind.

BIG GUY
Im gonna let that remark pass on
account of youre so tense youre
not aware of what a dick youre
being.

SLIM
Fuck this. Im outta here.
He stands, picks up his suitcase, walks unsteadily toward
the door.
 13.

BIG GUY
I thought we discussed this. The
last place you need to be is out on
the road, especially now that
youre shitfaced drunk. You wont
get two miles before you get pulled
over.
SLIM stares at him, eyes unfocused, moves toward the door
again. BIG GUY moves to stand in his way.

SLIM
Get the fuck outta my way.
BIG GUY
Whatdya you gonna do if I dont?
You gonna shoot me, too?

SLIM
Bet your ass I will.
They stare each other down for a moment.

BIG GUY
You aint shootin no one. Sit the
fuck down.
SLIM stares for a moment more, then sags, goes back to his
chair and sits.
BIG GUY (CONTD.)
Thats better.
BIG GUY pulls out a joint and lights it up. They pass it
back and forth.
BIG GUY (CONTD.)
You just let me do the thinkin for
now. Ill get you through this.

INT. THE MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)

SLIM and BIG GUY are staring at the TV as they pass another
joint. SLIM takes a pull from the bottle.

KNOCK ON THE DOOR

They look at the door. BIG GUY shrugs "I dont know".
SLIM
(to the knocker)
Who is it?
 14.

DESK CLERK (O.S.)

Its me, sir. From the office.

SLIM
Do you know what time it is? What
the fuck do you want?
DESK CLERK (O.S.)
Would you open the door, please?

BIG GUY gestures "Sure, why not". SLIM crosses to the door,
vainly waving at the air to disperse the smoke.
SLIM makes sure the chain is on the door and opens it a
crack, holding the gun out of sight.

SLIM
Yes?
DESK CLERK
Ive got the extra towels for you
and your guest.
He holds the towels up to the opening. SLIM takes them.
SLIM
Oh, sure, thanks.

DESK CLERK
Are you alright, sir? You
look...upset.

SLIM
Im fine. Im great. Thanks for the
towels.
He starts to close the door.

DESK CLERK
Could I talk to the gentleman?
SLIM
No. Hes...in the bathroom. You
dont need to talk to him,
everythings fine here. Thanks
again. Goodnight.
He closes the door and listens until he hears the DESK CLERK
walk away.

He looks at the towels, then throws them across the room. He

sits on the bed, his head in his hands, looking at the
floor, thinking.
 15.

SLIM
Fuck...fuck...fuck! (a beat) Okay,
if youve got a plan for getting me
out of this, lets hear-
He looks back into the room and notices that BIG GUY is
gone. Hes confused for a moment. He takes a big swallow of
whiskey. "Ellen" is on the TV.

The toilet flushes. The bathroom door opens and BIG GUY
comes out.
SLIM recoils, covering his mouth and nose with his hand.
SLIM
Oh, jesus.
BIG GUY
Sorry, bud. Couldnt get the window
open in there. Maybe those
anchovies werent such a good idea.

SLIM
Oh my god. Fuck.
SLIM fans the air in front of his face. He opens the door,
fanning it.

BIG GUY
The good news is now Ive got room
for more pizza.
He goes to the table and picks up a slice, pulling off the
anchovies.
SLIM steps outside. BIG GUY stands just inside the doorway,
holding a slice of pizza.

BIG GUY (CONTD.)

You know what your problem is?
SLIM
Yeah, Im tense. Right?

BIG GUY
I was thinkin it about in the can.
Your problem is you dont want to
face what you did. Youre not just
running from the cops and Nicks
family, youre running from
yourself.
SLIM paces in front of the open door.
 16.

SLIM
Ive got no problem with what I
did. They deserved it. Both of
them.

BIG GUY
You say so.
SLIM
They did deserve it. Especially
her. You know there are places
where its perfectly okay to kill
your wife if shes fucking around
with other men.
BIG GUY
Oh, so now were going to resort to
moral relativism. Sounds like
youre grasping at straws here.
SLIM
I dont even know what that means.

BIG GUY
And you say you loved her, but you
killed her. How can you kill
someone you say you love?
SLIM
Happens all the time. Called a
crime of passion.
BIG GUY
Bullshit. You cant kill someone
you really love unless its like a
mercy killing or something. No, you
want me to tell you why you killed
her?
SLIM
No.
BIG GUY
Ill tell you why. She was
beautiful and smart and way out of
your league. You married up and you
knew it.
SLIM
Watch it.
 17.

BIG GUY
Other men envied you and women
figured that a guy looks like you
must be the biggest stud on the
planet to get someone like
her. Your ego had a giant hard on.
SLIM
Shut up.

SLIM goes back into the room, guzzling from the bottle. BIG
GUY follows and shuts the door.
BIG GUY
So when you find out shes knockin
boots with someone else, you dont
feel so special anymore. Your ego
takes one in the nuts.
SLIM
You dont know what the fuck youre
talking about.
BIG GUY
Whats worse, you know when people
find out, your status as a hottie
is gonna go poof.

SLIM
Fuck you.
BIG GUY
That pissed you off. Had nothin
to do with love or that crap about
a car.
SLIM
She had no right!

BIG GUY
Im with ya there, pal. Forsaking
all others till death do you
part. Damn right. But theres
nothing in the contract says you
get to off her just cause she made
you look like a schlemiel.
SLIM points the gun at BIG GUYs face.
BIG GUY (CONTD.)
Seriously?

SLIM holds for a moment, then puts the gun in his own mouth.
 18.

BIG GUY
Oh, come on. You cant be that
stupid.

SLIM holds the gun there for a moment, then takes it out. He
cant do it. He drops the hand with the gun to his side. BIG
GUY gingerly takes it from him.
BIG GUY
Okay, time for sleepy bye, my
friend. Youve had a long day. A
few hours in the sackll fix you
right up.
He leads SLIM to a bed. SLIM lies down.

SLIM
Who are you?
BIG GUY
(taps his head with his
finger)
You know who I am. (a beat) You
just sack out for a while,
thingsll look better in the
morning.

BIG GUY sits on his bed and turns out the light on the
nightstand.

INT. THE MOTEL ROOM - DAWN

SLIM awakens. BIG GUY is gone. SLIM gets up, checks the
bathroom. He runs cold water, splashing it over his head.
He suddenly looks up, rushes to the bed and looks under
it. No suitcase.

He notices that the news is on the TV and theres a picture

of BIG GUY next to the news anchor. The caption under it
says "On the run". The sound is off. SLIM turns it up.
ANCHOR
...police are still searching for a
local attorney who cleaned out his
clients trust accounts and
disappeared. The money, said to
total about twenty million dollars,
was reportedly transferred to an
account in the Cayman Islands...
SLIM stares at it, trying to take it in.
 19.

SLIM
Motherfuck.
The door is kicked in, POLICEMEN fill the door, their guns
aimed at SLIM who reflexively turns and points his gun at
them.

COP 1
Gun!
The police open fire.

FLASHBACK

INT. BIG GUYS CAR - DAY

From a block away, BIG GUY sees a tan Crown Victoria parked
down the street from his house. He drives on and turns onto
the next cross street, stopping at the house behind his. He
exits the car.

EXT. BIG GUYS NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

BIG GUY looks around, goes through the side gate of the
house, through the back yard, climbs the back fence. He
enters his house.

A few moments later, he exits with a large gym bag, retraces

his path. As hes walking by the neighbors house he hears
loud sounds of lovemaking. Intrigued, he goes to the window
and looks in.

He watches NICK screwing SLIMs wife in the living room. He

hears a car drive up in front. SLIM enters, shoots
them. He opens Nicks suitcase, sees the money, takes the
suitcase and exits.
BIG GUY, waits by the side of the house for SLIM to get in
his car and drive away, then runs to his car and follows
SLIM to the motel.

INT. MOTEL OFFICE - DAY

SLIM exits, DESK CLERK sees BIG GUY drive into the lot and
park in front of Room 8.
 20.

INT. MOTEL BACK OFFICE - NIGHT

DESK CLERK sits at his desk, hits some keys on his computer,
watches a video feed from Room 8. He sees the money when
SLIM opens the suitcase to get the gun (BIG GUY is not in
the shot).

EXT. ROOM 8 DOOR - NIGHT

DESK CLERK knocks on Room 8s door in the earlier scene.
Hes holding a gun out of sight as he and SLIM talk MOS.

END FLASHBACK

INT. MOTEL OFFICE - DAY

COP 1
...and you recognized him from the
TV news.

DESK CLERK
Yes, sir. I couldnt believe
that there was a criminal, a
murderer no less right here in one
of our rooms. I was scared to
death. I called 911 right away.

COP 1
This other man, you said you saw
him leave the room this morning?
DESK CLERK
Yes, sir. Around three oclock. He
drove off to the east.

FLASHBACK

EXT. ROOM 8 DOOR - NIGHT

BIG GUY exits the room and walks to his car, carrying SLIMs
suitcase. DESK CLERK appears out of nowhere behind BIG GUY.
He swings a tire iron at BIG GUYs head.
 21.

END FLASHBACK

EXT. THE MOTEL OFFICE - DAY

COP 1 talks to DESK CLERK, MOS, inside the office, then
exits.

INT. MOTEL OFFICE - DAY

DESK CLERK watches the last police cars drive away. The
opening credits of "Cops" is on the television. The "Bad
Boys" theme music is playing.
He opens the door of a storage room to get some cleaning
supplies. SLIMs suitcase is there.

A car pulls up outside. Two tough looking men get out and
walk toward the office.
THE END